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. W. W. LE GRANDE.

RAILWAY SGNAL.

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WITNESSES ttorney (No Modem 3 Sheets-Sheet 2, W. LE GRANDE. RALWAYSIGNAL.

Patents; May ll, 1886,

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WITNESSES t?, n0, @Cay/vaan@ WMM .dttorney (No Model.) l l 3sh'eets-fsneeua.

' W. W LE GRANDE. RAILWAY SIGillfAL.v

No. 341.666. Patented May 11, 1886.

/ff/ H UNITED STATES YPATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM W. LE GRANDE, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ELEVENTNVEN'IY-FOURTHS rIO H. R. DERING, XV. DERING, AND T. H. UPPEEMAN, ALLOF SAME PLAGE.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,666, dated-May 11,1886.

Application filed June 29, 1885. Serial No. 170,085. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it Hwy' concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. LE GRANDE, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and Stateof Kentucky, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements inElectro- Mechanical Signal Apparatus; and I do declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description ot' the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference l being had to the accompanying drawings, and

to the letters and gures of reference marked thereon,which form a partof this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in electromechanical signaldevices of that class which is provided with an armature arranged torotate on its axis in a plane parallel with the face of the poles of theelectro-magnet.

The object of my invention is lo provide apparatus for operatingelectrical signals, which can be controlled by the electric currentseither in a common circuit or speciallyarranged circuits. My invent-ionconsists in the peculiarlyconstructed armature consisting of independentcircular segments of steel rigidly connected by a non-magnetic bar adjustably fitted to a shaft arranged parallel to the cores of anelectro-magnet and adapted to rotate on a plane parallel with the faceof the poles of the magnet,in combination with an electromagnet.

My invention further consists in the means for permanently magnetizingthe armature, so that when the current of electricity t-raverses thecoils of the magnet in one direction the armature will be held in acertain position, and that when the current is reversed and traversesthe coils inthe opposite direction the armature will be reversed and thesignaling device display opposite indications.

My invention further consists in signalmagnets, in combination with themainline of circuit, whereby the signals are operated directly by thecurrent traversing the mainline circuit. i

My invention also consists in the novel arrangement and combination ofelements, as

Fig. 6 is aplan view of a section or block of railroad with my improveddevices applied in operative connection.

The letter A designates. an electro-magnet of a well known construction,preferably mounted in an upright position upon the base A. The cores ofthe electro-magnet are connected together by a soft-iron yoke or bar, a,in the usual manner.

The letter B designates my improved armature. This is comprised of twoiiat bars of steel, b b, which are bent in circular shape and arrangedwith their ends approaching, and are rigidly secured together by anonmagnetic bar, b2. This non-magnetic bar b'l is preferably fixed tothe arms or segments of the armature near the opposite ends of the arms,in order that the greater part of each arm shall be on opposite sides ofthe connecting-bar, and thus permit the armature to traverse a greaterdistance over the poles when actedonbythecircuit. Inthecenterofthecon- Imeeting-bar is formed an aperture, b, through which isk passed a shaft,b5, which is fixed in the connecting-bar by means of a set-screw, bs.Thus the armature may be adjusted to any positions on the shaft desired,and there secured by means of this set-screw. By the same means therotation of the armature over the poles may be limited by moving thesegment-s laterally. The shaft b5 is pivoted in the base-piece and turnsin a hole in the crosspiece 128, support-ed on standards b9. A sleeve,c, is litted to the shaft b5, and in the sleeve is secured a stop-pin,c', the arm of which projects upward, substantially as shown, and lodgesagainst the edge of the cross-piece bi, whereby the rotation of thearmature is positively limited. On the end of the shaft b5, projectingabove the cross-piece, is fitted asleeve and socket, c, to which thesignal-rod carrying the signal is connected, substantially as shown. Onthe shaft l, preferably below the armature, is secured a sleeve, c,having a pin, c, projecting therefrom, and to this pin is secured acord', c5, which is passed over a grooved pulley, c, journaled to oneot' the standards, and a weight, ci, is attachedto the free end of thecord, the purposebeing to give automatic movement to the signal wheneverthe current is broken and turn it toa position of dangerf It will benoticed that when a current of electricity saturates the magnets, both arev pellant and attractive force is brought to bear forholding thesignal-bannersin a position to indicate safety In Fig. 6 of the drawingsI have demonstrated a plan view of an insulated section or block ofrailroad having the electro-magnetic signals arranged at each end of theblock of road, and a battery-box, with opposing batteries therein, andhave indicated the course of the currents thereon. Referring thereto,the letter D designates the battery-box containing a large battery, d,coupled for quantity, and from the negative side of this battery,designated d, is carried a conducting-wired@ which is connected with thetrack-wire d at the other end ofthe section of track, as designated atd4, and from this point is carried a wire, d5, which is connected to oneside of the electro-magnet d, which magnetis of the construction andarrangement of parts or elements heretofore described. Connected to andleading from the other side of this electromagnet is a wire, di, whichis carried along the track and connected to the signal-magnet da. Fromthe other side of the signal-magnet d3, leading from thence to thenegative side of the battery E, located in the battery-boX, is anotherwire, d. This battery E is of smaller quantity than the larger battery,d, and for the purpose hereinafter mentioned. A wire, e, is connectedwith the copper side of battery E, and from thence is extended to andconnects with the track-wire e', which is extended, as shown, andconnected in turn at the other end to the positive side ofthe battery d,thus completing a circuit in which the two opposing batteries, being ofrelatively different powers or strength, act to hold the signals atsafety when there is no train or other obstruction intervening to breakthe circuit on the section or block of road. This condition isaccomplished by the influence of the large battery, d, which, being thestronger, acts with controlling force over ythe weaker current, anddirects the circuit in the direction indicated by arrows,when notinterrupted byatrain passing over the section of track included withinthe circuit or other break in theline. IVhemhowever, a train enters onthe block or track from either end, the main or stronger battery d willbe cut out or short-circuited 7 by the connection made across the trackthrough the wheels and axle of the car, as indicated by the crossingarrow in front of the dummy, and the smaller and weaker or opposingbattery will, under this condition, be free to exert its influence in anopposite direction and throw a current in the course indicated by thespears across the track through the wheels andaXle liable to be the mostdirect conductor in circuit, as indicated by the crossing spear at therear of the dummy, the effect of the currentso established being toreverse the polarity of the signalmagnets, and thus throw the signals toindicate danger.

It will be perceived from the foregoing that I have produced anautomatic system of signals, the movement of which to the respectivepositions of danger and safety wholly dueto electrical forces. The trainor other interposed obstruction atecting the current acts simply as acommutator or changer ofthe electric current from one direction to theother, and these intervening objects are the mediums which may bebrought into operation in the entire circuit, through and by which thesignals are actuated t-o assume or display the respective positions ofsafety and danger.77

As one of the elements of my system, I use the gravity-weight, as shownin the drawings, for bringing the signals to display danger when thecircuit is broken or diverted from the signal-magnets from any causewhatever. In this arrangement but one battery is absolutely essential tosupply the current through the circuit, thebattery, as E, the smaller,being used, if desired, merely as an adjunct or aid to thegravityattachment; In. this arrangement, as in the arrangement of devices asheretofo're described, the current holds the signals to safety, thatbeing the position of the signals when the batteries are on. As soon,therefore, as a train enters the block the battery will be cut out orshortcircuited, and the operation of the weight brought into play,resulting in bringing the signals to display danger. The constructionand arrangement of this appliance or gravity attachment has beendescribed and stated hereinbefore; but it may here be stated that if thecircuit is broken from any cause whatever a danger-sig nal will bedisplayed. In other words,the electric current holding the signals tosafety7 is a natural and not an artificial one. IVhen the battery is cutout or short-circuitedLor if from any' cause whateverthe signal-magnetsfail to be energized,anatural law of physics comes into operation andbrings the signals to display danger.77

I make no specific claim in this application to the armature shown anddescribed herein, as the same will b e made the subject of anotherapplication for Letters Patent.

Vhat I claim as myinvention,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with an electrical railway'signal apparatus, anelectro-magnet and a shaft arranged parallel to the cores of the isV IIO

ISO

magnet, an armature lhaving independent sec- .tional wings of steelarranged with approach- '-ec--non-magnetic-bar with-their endstoapproach',

and adapted' to move toward and from thc'- v.poles of the'magn'ct on aplane parallel to the lzo face ofthe -polesof the magnet/,agravity-Weightsuspendedfrom the angle-arm of the said shaft, 'and havingits suspending-cord carried in a rotating..p|1lley,4 substantially asdescribed,

and-for the purpose stated.l

3. In combination, a battery, a n dncting-,wirehaving positiveconnection with the battery and extending along the line ol" road v andparallel thereto, an electro-magneaan arm- 'ature Vmounted thereon, asignal-disk adaptedtobeinoved by saidarmature, a' circuit- -wireconnected to said electro-magnet; and extended parallel to the track, asignal-magnet in connection with said wire andv carrying an armature 'imounted thereon, a signaldisk adapted to be moved by the armature, abat-f tery havingnegative connection with said lastnamed signal-magnet,anda circuit-wire'constated.

main conlnecting the -freepoles of both batteries, said batteries beingof relative dii'erent powers,

substantially asdescribed, and for the purpose 4. In combination, abattery,'a main, conducti ng-wire having positive connection with.thesaid battery and extending along the line of road and parallelthereto, an electro-magnet, an armature. mounted. thereon,v asignal-disk adaptedl to be moved by said armatnre, a circuit-wireconnected to said electro-magnet and extended parallel to the track, asignal-magbattery having negative connection with the lastnamed signalmagnet, and a gravityweight adapted to turn the signal-shaft,substantially as and for the purpose stated.

5. The combination of an electrical signaling apparatus with twoopposing batteriesin the same circuit, of different powers, whereby thesignals are held in position of safetyby the stronger, battery, and thesignal is reversed by the lesser battery when its current is applied,and the signal is returnedto safety -when the stronger. currentisrestored, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aftixmy signature in presence vof two witnesses.

WILLIAM W. Ln GRANDE.

Witnesses: i

L. A. Bricims, Tos. NUEssLIN..

n net in connection with said wire and carrying ian armature adapted to'move a signal-disk, a

